Meaning
The kanji 彼 (かれ / かの / ひ) is quite versatile. It primarily means "he," "him," "that (one)," "there," or "boyfriend." At its core, 彼 indicates someone or something removed from the speaker, either in space or time. This explains its dual role as a third-person pronoun and a demonstrative adjective/adverb.
The kanji 彼 originated in Chinese as a phono-semantic compound character. The left radical, 彳 (chì), called ぎょうにんべん (gyōninben) in Japanese, signifies "a step" or "to walk." This hints at movement, a path, or a distant location. The right component, 皮 (pí), acts as the phonetic element; its sound evolved into "hi" for the Japanese On'yomi reading. 皮 itself means "skin" or "hide." Combined, the components originally conveyed "that place" or "that distant person," suggesting something far away or on the "other side."
Over time, this original demonstrative sense in Japanese expanded. It came to include the third-person masculine pronoun "he" and, more colloquially, "boyfriend." The "walking" radical 彳 visually reinforces the concept of distance, referring to someone or something "over there" or "that one" who isn't immediately present. With just 8 strokes, it's relatively simple to write. While not taught in elementary school, 彼 is a fundamental kanji for JLPT N2 learners.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary On'yomi reading of 彼 is ヒ (HI). You'll find this reading mostly in more formal, abstract, or compound words. These often preserve the kanji's original Chinese sense of "that" or "the other side." It's rarely used to refer to "he" or "boyfriend" in modern Japanese.
- 彼岸 (higan) — The other shore; the equinoctial week. Rooted in Buddhist philosophy, this term refers to the "other shore" of enlightenment, contrasting with this world. It also denotes the week around the spring and autumn equinoxes, a traditional period for visiting graves in Japan.
- 彼此 (hishi) — This and that; here and there; various things. This is a somewhat literary or formal term. It contrasts "this" (此) and "that" (彼), suggesting multiplicity or a range of options.
- 彼我 (higa) — Self and other; us and them. Here, 彼 explicitly means "other" in contrast to "self" (我). This compound highlights the distinction between two parties.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi readings for 彼 are かれ (kare) and かの (kano). These are the readings you'll encounter most frequently in everyday Japanese. They are crucial for understanding the kanji's function as both a pronoun and a demonstrative.
かれ (kare): This is the main reading when 彼 stands alone as a noun or pronoun. It functions as the third-person masculine pronoun, meaning "he" or "him." Informally, it can also mean "boyfriend."
彼 (kare) — He, him, boyfriend.
彼ら (karera) — They, them (used for groups that include males or are exclusively male).
彼氏 (kareshi) — Boyfriend. This is a very common term for a male romantic partner.
かの (kano): This reading acts as an attributive demonstrative, meaning "that" or "that aforementioned." It always precedes a noun and often carries a slightly formal, literary, or nostalgic nuance, differing from the more common demonstrative 「あの」.
彼人 (kano hito) — That person (often implies a distant, respected, or previously mentioned individual).
彼時 (kano toki) — That time; then. Refers to a specific time in the past or future that is being recollected or anticipated.
彼国 (kano kuni) — That country. Often used when referring to a foreign country or one previously discussed.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 彼 forms many essential words and compounds, reflecting its diverse roles. It can function as a pronoun, a demonstrative, and part of more abstract concepts. Below are some of the most common and important examples, grouped by theme:
Personal Pronouns & Relationships
- 彼 (kare) — He; him; boyfriend. (The most fundamental usage of the kanji)
- 彼ら (karera) — They; them (specifically for groups containing males or exclusively male groups).
- 彼氏 (kareshi) — Boyfriend. (A very common term in modern Japanese)
- 彼女 (kanojo) — She; her; girlfriend. (Note: Despite containing 彼, this kanji specifically refers to a female. Here, 彼 functions largely phonetically or refers to 'that person' + 'woman'.)
Demonstratives & Location
- 彼方 (kanata) — Over there; yonder; that side. (While often written in hiragana alone, 彼方 is a classical way to express it, implying a place far off in the distance.)
- 彼処 (asoko) — Over there; that place. (This reading is very rare and usually written in hiragana. However, it's an interesting example of 彼's connection to demonstrative locations.)
- 彼方 (kano kata) — That person (polite, referring to someone distant or senior); over there (polite/formal).
Time & Abstract Concepts
- 彼岸 (higan) — The other shore (Buddhist concept); the equinoctial week. (A culturally significant term in Japan, often associated with Buddhist practices.)
- 彼岸花 (higanbana) — Red spider lily. (A flower that blooms specifically during the Higan week.)
- 彼時 (kano toki) — That time; then (more literary and evocative than あの時).
- 彼此 (hishi) — This and that; here and there; various things (a slightly formal term, often found in literary contexts).
- 彼我 (higa) — Self and other; us and them (used to emphasize the distinction between two parties, often in a competitive or comparative sense).
Example Sentences
彼は私の親友です。
Kare wa watashi no shin'yū desu.
He is my best friend.
アンナさんには彼氏がいますか？
Anna-san ni wa kareshi ga imasu ka?
Does Anna have a boyfriend?
彼らは昨日、映画を見に行きました。
Karera wa kinō, eiga wo mi ni ikimashita.
They went to see a movie yesterday.
彼女は夢を叶えるために努力しています。
Kanojo wa yume wo kanaeru tame ni doryoku shiteimasu.
She is working hard to achieve her dream.
彼方に見える島は、とても美しいです。
Kanata ni mieru shima wa, totemo utsukushii desu.
The island visible over there is very beautiful.
お彼岸には、お墓参りをする家族が多いです。
O-higan ni wa, o-hakamaeri wo suru kazoku ga ooi desu.
During the Higan week, many families visit graves.
彼時の思い出が今も鮮明に蘇ります。
Kano toki no omoide ga ima mo senmei ni yomigaerimasu.
Memories from that time are still vivid in my mind.
彼の笑顔はいつもみんなを元気にします。
Kare no egao wa itsumo minna wo genki ni shimasu.
His smile always brightens everyone's day.
彼女は、彼が買ってきたケーキを喜んで食べました。
Kanojo wa, kare ga katte kita kēki wo yorokonde tabemashita.
She happily ate the cake he bought.
Memory Tip
To remember 彼, focus on its two main components: 彳 (ぎょうにんべん), the "going man" radical on the left, and 皮 (かわ), "skin," which acts as the phonetic component on the right. Imagine a "walking man" (彳) whose "skin" (皮) is visible from a distance. You can point to this person "over there." Because they are distant or distinct, this person is "he" or "that one."
Alternatively, visualize 彳 as a path or road. Then, 皮 (pronounced HI, similar to "he" in English) represents the person walking on "that" path. This emphasizes both the sense of distance and the male pronoun. So, picture a "guy" (he/boyfriend) walking "that way" (彼方) along "that road" (彳), with his "skin" (皮) visible.